I have a confession.... I LOVE FP+

[Allison]

Worked great for me in December.

 

[ajfd]

I am an FP+ convert.

I loved FP- and was an FP runner/commando.

When FP+ rolled out I thought it was going to be great until I learned it was replacing FP-. Boo! Hiss! I considered not going back because I thought I knew how FP+ would negatively affect my family.

But then I gave it a chance and am now happy with FP+.

 

[BugsDaddy]

My comment "Watch what happens next week" is just that; how the "new" systems perform under load conditions. If people continue to suggest "just like it would have been with FP-" then where is the improvement? I believe it is in the ability to reserve 3 FP's in advance, but that is only an improvement if you do so early enough when they are still available. Beyond that, I don't see how anything is better and it takes a different strategy today to yield the same results achievable four years ago.

The argument from those that dislike FP+ has always been that it is inferior to FP-. If the result is that people prefer FP+ during lower crowds to FP- and feel that it is just on par with FP- during higher crowds, isn't that improvement?

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I am only able to visit during the peak seasons due to work and absolutely LOVE FP+ and MBs as well. They really have made my vacations easier and more relaxing.

 

[DisDreamsAshley]

Really nice to see a thread about how people like FP+! We really love it!

 

[prudence64]

If HS and Epcot get enough attractions to end the tiering, I'd give it an A. So, right now it's a B+ for me. But, the old system was a B-, so I'm happy.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think that you cannot please all of the people all of the time, no matter which system is implemented. When FP- was implemented, it had its detractors as well. When the next evolution of ride management is implemented there will be people who hate it and want to return to the days of FP+.

The testimony I have read from visitors on the DIS who have used FP+ recently has been overwhelmingly positive. Understanding that DIS users only represent a very small, statisticly insignficant subset of WDW visitors. As far as Disney is concerned, the primary data that will matter as to whether FP+ is a success will be increased park attendance, revenue per guest and profit margin.

If people like it, they will continue to purchase the product.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For people pulling 4+ Fastpasses, I would also like to know how much time you spent in line at a kiosk(s).

I really hope people start including this in their reports.

Didn't do it this time, but last Saturday and in December, we used the kiosk by Stitch. Waited less than 10 minutes. Seemed like it would be longer, but it actually moved rather quickly.

Due with a baby soon, so didn't use it yesterday as all our FP+'s were timed for our drive home so when #3 was done, we left.
(We are a party of 6.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My comment "Watch what happens next week" is just that; how the "new" systems perform under load conditions. If people continue to suggest "just like it would have been with FP-" then where is the improvement? I believe it is in the ability to reserve 3 FP's in advance, but that is only an improvement if you do so early enough when they are still available. Beyond that, I don't see how anything is better and it takes a different strategy today to yield the same results achievable four years ago.

Is there something about President's Day week that makes it busier than Christmas week? Because that would be something.

 

[ajfd]

My comment "Watch what happens next week" is just that; how the "new" systems perform under load conditions. If people continue to suggest "just like it would have been with FP-" then where is the improvement?

My issue with such comparisons is that because Disney actively promotes FP+, a significantly higher proportion of guests utilize FP+ now than did FP-. As I said in another post, pre-FP+ I think there was one off-handed mention of FP- in my planning material ... now there are at least a dozen impressions prior to a trip, including directed reminders to set up FP+ choices.

Would the memory of FP- be so rosy if the E tickets distributed their FP- tickets within an hour or two of park opening, every day? Now that I think about it, that's exactly what happened with Soarin', TT, and TSMM and people were none-to-happy about it.

 

[BugsDaddy]

My issue with such comparisons is that because Disney actively promotes FP+, a significantly higher proportion of guests utilize FP+ now than did FP-. As I said in another post, pre-FP+ I think there was one off-handed mention of FP- in my planning material ... now there are at least a dozen impressions prior to a trip, including directed reminders to set up FP+ choices.

Would the memory of FP- be so rosy if the E tickets distributed their FP- tickets within an hour or two of park opening, every day? Now that I think about it, that's exactly what happened with Soarin', TT, and TSMM and people were none-to-happy about it.

I remember just the opposite. When I used to get the WDW trip planning videos 8 to 10 years ago, it seemed the old Fastpass system was probably mentioned every time they featured a big ticket ride. In fact, I think they even had an entire feature on the planning DVD dedicated to Fastpass.

 

[cakebaker]

Watch what happens starting next weekend.




.

There's always a gloom and doom report we're waiting for, but it just doesn't seem to happen. I remember waiting for them to do away with standby altogether- waited for a sudden release of fp's for SDMT to prove to be the harbinger of a test coming up...none of it has come to pass. But hope springs eternal that FP+ will be a bust I guess.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

For people pulling 4+ Fastpasses, I would also like to know how much time you spent in line at a kiosk(s).

I really hope people start including this in their reports.

My wife spent 10 minutes in line and that was after she spent 5-7 minutes trying to find the kiosk. Also, this week she had all 3 FP's selected before 1 and was only able to get one extra. All the good rides were all out and this was this week.

 

[Goddesstree]

I thought WDW released day-of FP+ for the people who buy tickets at the park? If there are fewer FP+ it would make sense that there would have been fewer FP- before as well. There was never an unlimited amount of FP-.

My wife just finished her 3 day trip today. She did not care for the new system and here is why. The choices they give you are not always the rides we ride. So, we have to select a time and not use it which takes up a time slot for another person. The kiosk line were long and there are not many, plus you have to answer questions before you can select your Fp which takes more time. You are only allowed to have 1 at a time as well. You also can't get FP's for different parks until all your FP's are used up. We always do 2 parks a day and many times 3 per day.

With that being said, she did enjoy having a Fp for the rides she wanted before she got to the park. She thinks when the parks are busy though, your FP's will be the ones you preselect and that's it. There will be hardly any FP's left. This is a wait and see for when we return during busy times. Under the old system during busy times we constantly got 5-7 FP's per day and at multiple parks for the rides we actually ride.

I see this just like the DDP. It works for some and it doesn't work out for some. They definitely need to fix the ability to get FP's for multiple parks and for you to get multiple FP's for tier 1 rides.

 

[Brian Noble]

I remember just the opposite. When I used to get the WDW trip planning videos 8 to 10 years ago, it seemed the old Fastpass system was probably mentioned every time they featured a big ticket ride. In fact, I think they even had an entire feature on the planning DVD dedicated to Fastpass.

It was there, in the booklet, and also on the park maps. On the other hand, it also makes sense that there is more pre-trip communication about FP+, because there's actually something you can do about it before you leave.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I will say that on the old FP plus system, some of the fast passes I was able to get either went unused or we would pass the off to someone else. Primarily because we couldn't really plan ahead as to when the return time was going to be and we may be on the other side of the park when our FP time hit and no one felt like walking all the way back for one ride. At least with FP+, you know ahead of time when and where you need to be and can plan your touring style to reflect that.

 

[ajfd]

I will say that on the old FP plus system, some of the fast passes I was able to get either went unused or we would pass the off to someone else.

That's actually the biggest thing I miss about FP- ... being able to spread a little pixie dust of our own by handing off an FP- to another guest.

The last time we were able to do that was Space Mountain. Standby was pushing an hour and we had just come off it and had two FP- that were going to be unused. A mother and son were walking toward the SB line and I was able to watch them just as they got close enough to read the wait time ... I recognize the combination look of excitement and disappointment. I walked up to them and told them to "take these and walk over to that line ... you'll be on in a few minutes" as I handed them the two FP- and point to the FP line.

They were very overjoyed. I watched as they trotted to the FP line ... when they turned to high-fived each other, I could see the big smiles on their faces.

I still get the warm and fuzzies thinking about that moment. Alas, that's not possible any more.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

My wife spent 10 minutes in line and that was after she spent 5-7 minutes trying to find the kiosk. Also, this week she had all 3 FP's selected before 1 and was only able to get one extra. All the good rides were all out and this was this week.

Before we went (recent trip got back 2/5) I printed off a list of FP+ locations from easywdw. Also read Josh's notes about which were the least busy. Very handy to have IMO. We came off of Jungle Cruise and hit that FP location to book our next one - now that was convenient!

 

[BugsDaddy]

That's actually the biggest thing I miss about FP- ... being able to spread a little pixie dust of our own by handing off an FP- to another guest.

The last time we were able to do that was Space Mountain. Standby was pushing an hour and we had just come off it and had two FP- that were going to be unused. A mother and son were walking toward the SB line and I was able to watch them just as they got close enough to read the wait time ... I recognize the combination look of excitement and disappointment. I walked up to them and told them to "take these and walk over to that line ... you'll be on in a few minutes" as I handed them the two FP- and point to the FP line.

They were very overjoyed. I watched as they trotted to the FP line ... when they turned to high-fived each other, I could see the big smiles on their faces.

I still get the warm and fuzzies thinking about that moment. Alas, that's not possible any more.

Yes, it was a nice gesture to be able to give them away. However, most of them went unused which showed an inefficiency in the old fast pass system, IMO.

 

[prudence64]

If you cancel them someone can pick them up, you just won't get to see the excitement when they score